England will reflect on a missed opportunity as Australia strengthened their Ashes control with a second successive one-day international victory. Amy Jones, unbeaten on 47, failed to run from a free hit at the end of the 48th over,

Australia could only muster 180 with the bat before bowlers Alana King and Kim Garth sparked a stunning England collapse to give the hosts a 2-0 lead in the series.

Englands hopes of regaining Womens Ashes on the ropes after successive defeats in Australia; Heather Knights side travel to Hobart for final ODI in desperate need of victory to transform their fortunes in the multi-format series;

Alyssa Healy’s stated ambition on the eve of this Women’s Ashes was to “throw the first punch”. Mission very much accomplished. England limped away from North Sydney on Sunday evening with a bloody nose,

There is a striking difference between England’s and Australia’s XI – and that difference told as the hosts were the first to put points on the board in the 2025 Women’s Ashes when winning the opening one-day international by four wickets in Sydney.